Description
About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 3 million members in more than 8,600 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of “God’s work. Our hands.,” the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA’s roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
The Lutheran Center (national office) is located in Chicago, Illinois. A staff of approximately 400, under the leadership of the Presiding Bishop, serve as administrators, advisors, conveners, partners, and resource people for the ELCA and its ministries. Staff lead the work of national, domestic, and global ministries and programs including Lutheran Disaster Response, ELCA World Hunger, Service & Justice, Christian Community and Leadership, and Innovation. We are also home to five of our separately incorporated ministries: The Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA, Women of the ELCA, Lutheran Men in Mission, the ELCA Foundation and the ELCA Federal Credit Union.
About the ELCA Foundation
As a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the ELCA Foundation works with individuals, congregations, synods, the churchwide organization, and all other ELCA-related entities to develop gifts and oversee the management of assets that sustain and grow ministries of the ELCA. With over $1.5billion in gifts and assets managed on behalf of the ELCA, the Foundation provides gift planning, endowment management, investment services, and donor engagement rooted in stewardship, integrity, and service.
About the position
This position is primarily responsible for performing senior-level accounting functions for the ELCA Foundation’s Deferred Gifts (DG) Program, including giving instruments such as charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, and pooled income funds. This position reports to the controller and collaborates with the churchwide organization’s and the Foundation’s functions that support the DG program, including gift development, gift processing and donor services, investments, accounts payable, information technology, and legal/regulatory compliance.
This is a full-time, regular, exempt, Chicago-based, hybrid position. This position has responsibilities that will require being in the office on a weekly basis. This could mean 2-3 days most weeks and possibly more days when meetings and other events are happening that this position supports.
The eligibility of a candidate for remote or hybrid positions may depend on the residency of the candidate, and the budget for the role, including salary or pay, insurance coverage, and/or tax burden. Candidates for this position must reside within the fifty United States or the District of Columbia and be authorized to work lawfully in the United States. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.
1. Perform (or facilitate with third party administrators for the performance of) gift administration and accounting functions for the ELCA’s charitable trust, pooled income fund and life income agreements, including new gift additions, account funding, gift valuation, life-income payments, maturities, tax reporting and monthly/quarterly accounting entries.
2. Advise on gift acceptance policies for non-cash gifts and complex deferred gift structures. Monitor and account for real estate properties.
3. Prepare monthly and quarterly journal entries for the charitable trust program and the pooled income fund program.
4. Prepare management and other stakeholder reports, including accompanying analysis, for various monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual results of the charitable trust program, chartable gift annuities and pooled income funds.
5. Prepare and maintain certain account reconciliations related to the deferred gift program, ensuring accuracy of gift, and accounting results and resolving outstanding items timely.
6. Prepare audit schedules and footnotes for financial statement reported as assigned. Ensure that all accounting policies and critical procedures are properly documented. Gathering additional information upon request of the auditors.
7. In collaboration with gift development, gift processing, finance, and information technology staff, identify and implement process and reporting enhancement opportunities. Serve as a subject-matter expert for system testing and upgrades.
8. Serve as backup for gift administration and accounting functions related to the ELCA’s charitable gift annuity program.
9. Coordinate training of contract/temporary staff in the Charitable Gift Annuity area and GiftWrap system.
10. Other duties as required.
Supervision
1. Accountant I - Deferred Gift Program.
Requirements
1. 3+ years’ experience in a non-profit environment. A bachelor’s degree in accounting. CPA preferred or solid knowledge of not-for-profit accounting. Experience with charitable trusts including preparing the 5227 and K1 forms as well as actuarial valuation and/or investments.
2. Ability to utilize technology in executing processes and analyzing results. Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Office products skills and experience with accounting software is required.
3. Demonstrated ability to work with confidential information, maintaining strong personal and organizational integrity in security matters.
4. Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills and be able to work closely with both internal and external constituents.
5. Excellent organizational, analytical, problem-solving skills with an attention to detail, customer-service orientation, and ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
6. Appreciation for the mission, vision, values, and goals of the ELCA and ELCA Foundation.
7. Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism.
8. Minimum Technical Competency: Computer knowledge that enables you to operate a Windows Computer and follow basic troubleshooting instructions. Software skills to efficiently use computer programs and applications. Ability to leverage computer knowledge and software skills to understand new software, follow process, and identify opportunities for improvement. Experience using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, etc.) preferred. Familiarity with platforms such as WorkDay, PG Calc - GiftWrap, and/or Blackbaud - CRM is a plus.
Physical
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear, be visible on camera, use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone. This position requires sitting for long periods of time. Employee will occasionally need to lift boxes or materials up to 15 pounds. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Travel
Minimal travel. Position requires minimal travel for offsite staffing meetings. Valid driver’s license preferred.
Benefits
The ELCA offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, including employer paid health premiums for employees, health and dependent care FSA’s, a health savings account (HSA) with an employer contribution, life insurance, and a substantial employer contribution to 403b retirement plan (no match required). We also offer a generous paid time-off policy including 17 paid holidays. All benefits commence on your start date.
Contact
If you have questions about this job or your application, please complete this form to contact Human Resources.
Salary
Commensurate with qualifications and relevant experience.